Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an excellent addition to this popular series. It is well-written and has plenty of surprises. It's a little slow in places, but a good read nonetheless.

Dead Man’s Shoes by Marion Todd is the ninth novel in this consistently good series featuring Detective Clare Mackay.
Clare gets a visit from an old colleague who has police intelligence that a prolific serial killer has moved into the St Andrews area, hence Clare’s patch. This particular serial killer only targets men and has been nicknamed “The Choker”, because he tortures his victims, then chokes them to death with a chain. Intelligence has yielded that the protagonist uses a white van and could possibly be a painter or decorator
Unfortunately, before Claire’s investigations have got off the ground, a young man is found strangled in woodland. Claire wonders if she could have prevented the death, but then she is unsure if the victim is The Choker’s chosen target or is there another reason for his death.
What follows is a case of utmost complexity and painstaking police inquiries. I like Marion Todd’s writing a lot. She creates a really authentic police procedural and the intricate teamwork that goes into a major investigation.
The only downside in the book is the relationship between Claire and Alistair Gibson, her partner. I don’t find them believable at all. Still, this is a minor hiccup in a well-crafted story and series.
My thanks to NetGalley, Marion Todd and especially Canelo for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

A young man is found dead near a nightclub. He has marks on his neck, the signature of the Choker, a killer who has been targeting gay men across the country. Now, it seems he's in DI Clare Mackay’s territory. She discovers this victim has links to notorious criminals in the area. More men, including ones linked to the victim, are attacked and left injured. It’s only a matter of time before someone else is killed.
The ninth book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own, I’m a lover of series & have to start from the beginning so I can see how relationships develop & the dynamics between them. Another well written, well paced book that I read in a couple of sittings. I really like Clare & like how she’s becomes involved in each new case, she does try to balance her work & her home life but once she’s deep into a case her home life gets put on the back burner. The case is intriguing & there are twists & turns, some of which were surprising & had me on the edge of my seat. A very enjoyable book which I thoroughly enjoyed
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

well this author has done it again..... a captivating book that you cant put down until you finish it....

murder, abductions and threats this book has it all oh and a couple of thugs

D.I claire mackay is up against it when a body turns up. identification is made and the family are distraught.... could it really be a case of mistaken identity as the case unravels and the perps hide in plain sight it takes a lot out of claire and her team to bring it back together

what a read... cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series....

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"Dead Man's Shoes" by Marion Todd is a finely-crafted gem that gleams brightly in the treasure trove of crime fiction. The narrative is an adrenaline-pumping blend of intricate plotting, compelling characters, and atmospheric tension, making it a riveting read from start to finish.

Todd masterfully constructs the world of DI Clare Mackay, a detective whose depth of character is rivaled only by the depth of the mysteries she seeks to unravel. Mackay is a character you root for; her tenacity, intelligence, and moments of vulnerability bring authenticity to her role and make her relatable on many levels.

The plot begins with a bang and never loses its momentum. Todd's storytelling prowess ensures that each twist and turn is both unexpected and seamlessly integrated into the narrative fabric. The suspense is palpable, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, Todd deftly subverts expectations, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

What sets "Dead Man's Shoes" apart is Todd's ability to evoke a strong sense of place. The Scottish setting is vividly brought to life with meticulous detail, adding another layer of immersion. You can almost feel the chill in the air and hear the whispers of the wind as they carry secrets through the small town.

Moreover, Todd's prose is crisp and evocative, striking a perfect balance between description and action. The pacing is spot-on, ensuring that the story never drags and that each scene contributes meaningfully to the unfolding mystery.

"Dead Man's Shoes" is a stellar addition to the crime genre. It entertains while engaging the reader's mind, making it a must-read for fans of compelling detective fiction. Marion Todd has crafted a story that lingers long after the final page is turned, and I eagerly await DI Clare Mackay's next adventure.

Slipping back into DI Clare McKay’s world is a little bit like trying on a new pair of slippers. You know that they will be comfortable eventually, but you need to overcome some pain to get there. Probably not the best way to express myself, but I know exactly what I mean.
Called to a top-secret meeting with the Dundee brass, Clare is told that a prolific serial killer is headed her way and that she needs to be aware of what is happening and to be alert to the potential danger posed to the local gay community.
Clare McKay is one of my favourite detectives, and I thoroughly enjoy Marion Todd’s police procedural stories. The way the layers fall away to reveal more twists than an Axminster carpet, keeps me gripped with each turn of the page. The reader is kept apace of the investigation but gets no chance to get ahead of the story as the jeopardy builds at a persistent pace. Familiar names are in the mix, and it’s easy to see that Clare will be entrenched in her determination to bring a long-time adversary to justice, but at what cost?
Drilling down on the characters in this book led me to examine Clare and try to get a clearer insight into her drivers. Whilst it’s clear that she is a police officer first and foremost, for the first time, I saw a level of jadedness that had me worried. Clare seemed disillusioned with the path to justice and perhaps was questioning her commitment to her badge. Of course, she was still supported by the best team, and her relationships seemed stronger than ever. I honestly feel that this may be my favourite instalment in this franchise, and I look forward to Clare’s next adventure.

Another great addition to this series . Clare Mackay is working on the investigation into the death of a young man near a nightclub. She is joined by another DI looking into a serial killer who has been strangling young men. At foirst appearances, this case may be related . Fast-paced action and meticulous forensic investigation with a couple of twists in the plot along the way. Clare is busy, so has less time for her home life and also sustains an injury. Plenty of gritty description of the criminal underworld. A satisfying read .
Thanks to NeT Galley for the ARC

An enjoyable 9th book in the DI Clare Mackay series, wrapping up one subplot and introducing another one to tease us into hopefully book 10! This one saw a lot of little threads overlap so that I think it benefits from reading fairly quickly to keep on top of it all - but with Marion’s writing, that’s far from a hardship. I’d recommend the series to anyone who likes their noir in tartan colour!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Detective Clare MacKay #9

There's a serial killer that's targeting gay men. He's been nicknamed The Choker as he drugs and rapes his victims then strangles them with a chain. Police intelligence believes he is targeting the St. Andrews area next.All they know about him is that he might be a painter and decorator., and he drives a white van. DI Clare MacKay and her team are setting up a widespread l team in the hope of capturing the person responsible.

The pace is steady in this twisted and well-written read. People who have read all the books in this series will be familiar with DI MacKay and her team. It's action-packed, and we learn more of Clare's background and her struggles dealing with her elderly parents. This is a good addition to the series.

Published 0th January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #MarionTodd for my ARC of #DeadMansShoes in exchange for an honest review.

Another eagerly awaited installment in DI Clare Mackay's police career. This book is interesting as it follows a series of attacks on gay young men in the North of England and also we see the reappearance of an old friend, teflon coated Big Val Docherty. We see a bit more of Clare's personal life with her patents and Al (The DCI) and the beginnings of how the late nights and physical nature of the job take their toll. Her team are brilliant, supportive and Chris is hilarious as usual. Absolutely brilliant, as usual, and now we will await no.10 next year I guess?
I was left with one question though- I couldn't see any connection to the book title and wondered if I have missed something?

Excellent tension & suspense😯

This is one of my favorite police investigative series and just keeps going at a high standard. Here St. Andrews DI Clare Mackay and her team start the story poised to nab a serial killer of young gay men moving around in the UK and end up untangling a local crime streak that results in kidnapping and murder. It's fast paced and I was totally engaged beginning to end. Clare and her whole team are dedicated and work so well together.

I usually prefer this genre with focus on the crime investigation and limited input about the characters' private lives. But not here. Clare's escalating problem with work life balance and its effect on her relationship with Al had me worried and added to the suspense.

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I’ve been waiting patiently for the next instalment in the Clare Mackay series, and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed! Thanks NetGalley for the advance reading, in return for my review!

Just when you think there can’t be any crime left in St Andrews that the intrepid Clare hasn’t already dealt with, along comes a man in a van from down south, and Clare and her team spring into action! I enjoyed the is it/ isn’t it part of whether the ‘anticipated’ crime had been committed, showing that things aren’t always as they seem, along with the pursuit of who they home is the right man.

Again, I love the reference to local areas I know about- I do wonder if this is a huge part of the appeal of the books for me, and whether anyone reading who isn’t local, has that same investment, but either way, I can’t wait to see what Clare is up to next!

It is wonderful to catch up with Clare, partner DCI Alistair Gibson, Benjy their dog and Clare's team - Chris, Sara, Max, Robbie and Gillian at the police station based in St Andrews, Fife. One morning, Clare is called to a meeting with Superintendent Penny Meakin, where DCI Ben Ratcliffe is also waiting. We learn there is a serial offender making their way up to St Andrews. Clare and Ben join forces along with her team to stop any crime occurring. All I know is this was a fast paced, police procedural that was filled with a few nail biting moments and lots of twists and turns. The team grows stronger in their dynamic and you see how much they rely on each other to get through the crime ridden days.

I really enjoy Marion Todd’s DI Clare Mackay series and Dead Man’s Shoes is a real cracker. This time a fair bit of the action comes from around Dundee and I had no trouble at all identifying with the storyline involving drugs, a dodgy nightclub and a particularly slippy customer that the Police have been trying to pin down for their crimes but to no avail.

In the midst of business as usual, DI Clare Mackay is asked to lead her team in identifying a serial killer who preys on gay men. It’s got to be an undercover operation, because the Serious Crime Agency is keen to make sure that their perpetrator has no idea that they believe he’s in Clare’s area of St Andrews. Without a picture to go on and only the sketchiest of details about his likely occupation and mode of transport, Clare must use her skills and local knowledge of the area to track this man down, working in conjunction with an old acquaintance at the NCA. It is believed that this killer, whom the press have dubbed ‘The Choker’ seeks his victims out at weekends and kills them.

So, when a young man is found strangled earlier in the week, Clare chastises herself for not anticipating an earlier kill, but remains unsure as to whether this young man is actually a victim of The Choker or someone else’s target. The young man was a member of a local family with ties to criminal activity and so other leads need to be investigated, stretching the team to capacity.

One of the reasons I like this series so much is its authenticity. You do get a feel for how police procedure works and for the careful planning that goes into an operation like finding a serial murderer.

Clare has a good team around her and is mindful of their mental and physical well-being – though of course it doesn’t stop her nicking their biscuits! She does though, throw a lot of herself into her work and that means she can be a little forgetful of her home and family life, though she does her best to balance things out, she is not always successful. Her beloved dog, Benjy, though ensures he is never far from her mind! Clare’s life partner. Alastair Gibson, whom she refers to as ‘the DCI’, on the other hand, has to bide his time until she has the headspace to listen to his news as Clare’s investigation ramps up.

Marion Todd does a great job of creating tension and excitement and of throwing in the odd piece of misdirection here and there to keep us guessing. Her understanding of forensics is excellent and provides her with the fodder for an excellent plot line and denouement. The pacing is good, and moves from an even flow to fast paced when things start to really heat up.

Verdict: An excellent read and a terrific police procedural. Marion Todd writes her characters with deftness and brings them to life as rounded individuals, especially in Clare’s team. These are likeable characters with the kind of domestic issues we all have and though the crimes feel all too real, there’s no gratuitous violence or overdoing the gore. I have no hesitation in recommending the whole series to new readers. Dead Man’s Shoes can easily be read as a stand-alone book, but if you read the whole series, you’ll really enjoy the character progression.

My thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, Book 9 of Detective Clare Mackay series written by Marion Todd, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The Chainlink Choker has been choosing his young male victims from around the North of England until police intelligence hears that he’s moved on to the St Andrews area where DI Clare Mackay is based. With DCI Ben Ratcliffe involved, can Clare and her team catch the killer before he finds another victim?

‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ is an exciting Scottish police thriller where DI Clare Mackay joins forces with DCI Ben Ratcliffe to find a prolific killer before he claims another victim. Although it has a rather slowish start it soon gains momentum and with a plot that’s well thought-out and has lots of drama, suspense and twists and turns, you get a thoroughly enjoyable thriller that’s easy to read and impossible to put down. As Clare finally brings the investigation to an end and looks forward to a well-deserved rest, her boyfriend DCI Alastair Gibson springs a surprise leaving her with a dilemma, but we won’t know what she decides until we get to read book 10!

What a fantastic read I couldn't put it down. Was fast paced and very thrilling

Thanks for the opportunity to review

Another instalment in the quite brilliant series of books by St. Andrews based novelist, Marion Todd.

Again, our heroine, Clare Slater has to overcome a battle of personal and professional dilemmas in a well-paced and narratively twisting tale.
As always, Slater must rise above and lead her team, this time with the pain of a back injury sustained in the line of duty while attempting to solve another case of murder in her small town.

Todd writes with such verve and enthusiasm, as ever this reader could not put the book down.
A great start to the New Year of reading for fans old and new.

DI Clare MacKay has a murderer, who targets and chokes gay young men, to apprehend. One young man does not seem to be quite the same as the others and Clare determines that there are two killers out there. One, the Choker, the other seemingly related to the drugs and people slavers of Dundee. It's so good to see teams working together well, for them to have some sense of humour in a pretty horrible job, for the boss to be supportive. Clare's personal life is also normal feeling - elderly parents, a supportive partner whom she does take for granted rather a lot and so on. Well written as expected, enough red herrings, twists and turns and satisfactory ending. Another definitely good read - bit of a relief that since I've had rather too many 3* ok for a while, read, finish, forget. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Dead Man’s Shoes is book 9 in the D I Clare Mackay series, but it can easily read as a standalone.
Intel has been brought it that a serial Killer called the choker is heading to St Andrews way. Clare and her team plan to catch the killer before he strikes again. The killer kills men and hokes them with a chain. They get news that a body is found with the M.O. of the Choker and the police think that he has killed again but Clare has her doubts,
When they delve into the investigation that the person killed is linked to a night club and a case of wrong identity. When another person goes missing is he going to be next or is it something else entirely.
Although the storyline a bit slow at first. It became another gripping read from the author. Clare as usual doing all she can to find the killer. Its not easy for her as she also has things in her personal to deal with too. This is a great read. 4 stars from me.

Dead Man's Shoes by Marion Todd is a highly recommended procedural and the ninth novel set in Scotland featuring Detective Clare Mackay.

There is a serial killer on the loose targeting men. He is being called the Choker since he drugs his victims and then chokes them to death with a chain. Police intelligence believes the Choker is moving into the St. Andrews area. He drives a white van and is thought to be a decorator or painter. He usually strikes on a Friday or Saturday night. DI Clare Mackay and her team are tasked with setting up a widespread surveillance trying to catch the killer.

When a young man is found dead before the weekend, it is thought it might be from the Choker, but Mackay has her doubts. The victim has ties to some local criminals in the area. The surveillance plan continues and another man is found injured. It seems that the Choker is still active and there may be more going on than the police realize.

Dead Man's Shoes is a well-written, detailed, even-paced procedural. It did seem to move a little slowly at times, but those who enjoy procedurals will appreciate all the details carefully provided. The focus is on the facts of the investigation while avoiding a lot of grisly descriptions of the crimes.

For those not following the series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. Even though there are some personal things happening in the lives of the character, the focus is really on the police work. You won't have all the background information on the characters, but you will still be able to follow the investigation. Thanks to Canelo Crime for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.